Burns (1985) Vol. 1 l/No. 4

day 3. Resting metabolic expenditure on day 13 after burning was lowest when feeding started early. On day 1 after burning the animals receiving early feeding had the greatest jejunal mucosal weight and thickness. Mucosal weight had significant negative correlations with plasma cortisol and glucagon. Two weeks after burning vanillyl mandelic acid excretion, and plasma cortisol and glucagon concentrations were lowest in the animals receiving early feeding. These hormones were also significantly correlated to resting metabolic ex- penditure at this time.

Mochizuki H., Trocki O., Dominioni L. et al. (1984) Mechanism of prevention of post burn hypermetabol- ism and catabolism by early enteral feeding. Ann. Surg. 200, 297.

Vitamin E and immunosuppression The ability of vitamin E to prevent postburn immuno- suppression was tested in burned mice using ear swelling in response to a challenge with 2-4 dinitro- fluorobenzene. Alternate day administration of vitamin E in either dimethylsulphoxide or Vaseline jelly was used. The mean degree of cell mediated immunity was depressed to 55 per cent of normal control in untreated burned mice. Treatment with either parenteral vitamin E in corn oil or topical vitamin E in dimethylsulphoxide improved the cell mediated immunity dramatically compared to burned controls. Vitamin E in Vaseline

had a less beneficial effect although it was still an effective immunomodulator.

Rundus C., Peterson V. M., Zapata-Sirvent R. et al. (1984) Vitamin E improves cell mediated immunity in the burned mouse: a preliminary study. Burns 11, 11.

Benefits of immune globulin Burned mice infected with Ps. aeruginosa were given immune globulin intravenously with beneficial effects upon survival. Protection was dose related and large amounts of immune globulin given soon after infection were required for full protection. Thirty-six hours after giving the immune globulin the plasma of burned infected animals contained less of the injected immune globulin than found in the plasma of either unburned or burned but not infected animals. Thirty hours after giving the immune globulin the bacterial counts in the skin and liver tissue of untreated burned infected mice were significantly higher than in mice given a protective dose of IV immune globulin. Adsorption of IV immune globulin with heat killed cells reduced its protective effect. Adsorption with formalin killed cells reduced its protective effect even more.

Holder I. A. and Naglich J. G. (1984) Experimental studies of the pathogenesis of infections due to Pseudo- monas aeruginosa. Treatment with intravenous immune globulin. Am. J. Med. 76, (3A), 161.